TAMPA, Fla. — The Islanders’ performance on Saturday brought to mind Cal Clutterbuck’s words on MSG’s postgame show Thursday night, after a similarly lacking performance against Vancouver.
“What’s surprising to me is [coach Patrick Roy] mentions details sort of in a passing way,” Clutterbuck, who played for the Islanders as recently as last year, said. “And I think this time of year, that’s what wins you hockey games.”
The Islanders teams that went to consecutive conference finals — which is to say the Islanders under Barry Trotz — were “detail-oriented,” Clutterbuck pointed out.
Forty-eight hours later and he looked prophetic.
The Islanders approached details on Saturday as if they had the talent and playoff odds of the Lightning, for whom the only jeopardy left is in their first-round opponent.
They finally showed up to put forth a valiant comeback effort in the third period, but a lacking first 40 minutes left the Islanders 5-3 losers to Tampa on Saturday at Amalie Arena.
With four straight defeats, the last two in regulation, you can officially say the Islanders are in trouble, the glow of a miniature three-game winning streak having worn off.
No one seems interested in grabbing hold of the last wild-card spot, so it’s not as disastrous as it could be.
Neither was the final score of this one, which looked on pace for a blowout before a third-period surge of Islanders scoring cut a 4-0 deficit to 4-3 over a three-minute span.
